Police ID victim as Griffin Matley

MONDAY UPDATE: The funeral service for the 16-year-old Howell teen killed in a car crash Wednesday is 11 a.m. today.

The funeral service for Griffin Robert Matley is at Venture Church at 8457 E. Highland Road (M-59) in Howell.

Matley, who is the son of Joseph R. and Jennifer L. Reizen Matley, enjoyed basketball, Xbox and football. He was also an avid Green Bay Packers fan.

ORIGINAL STORY:

A 16-year-old Howell High School junior was killed in a single vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon south of Howell.

Michigan State Police identified the teen as Griffin Matley, a junior at Howell High School.

Police said 16-year-old Cameron Smith, also believed to be a Howell High student, was driving a 1971 Volkswagen dune-buggy-style vehicle west on Davis Road around 5:30 p.m. when he lost control and left the roadway. The vehicle crashed into a tree a half-a-mile east of D-19 in Marion Township.

Police said Matley was transported to the University of Michigan hospital in Ann Arbor where he was pronounced dead. The driver also was transported to the U-M with non life-threatening injuries.

Thomas Gould, director of public relations for Howell Public Schools, said administration and staff are taking steps to assist students, including making counselors available for those who need it.

"The entire Howell Public Schools community extends their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Howell High School junior Griffin Matley," Gould said in a statement.

Principal Jason Schrock said some students did seek guidance from the counselors. The students, he said, shared their memories of growing up with Matley.

"They painted a really good picture of a guy everyone wanted to hang out with," he said. "He was adventuresome but nice. He left a lot of people with fond memories. Our deepest condolences to his family."